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Sunday the 3rd of September War was declared.
Lily Westwood was walking down the street when a siren was sounded.
At just fourteen years old she hurried home frightened and scared, as this
was the first real siren. when she arrived home she discovered that War had been declared.
Due to this life soon changed for everyone living in the East End of London.
One big change was everyone was given a gas mask and an identity card, that had to be carried everywhere,
in case of a gas attack. Fortunately a gas attack never took place.

On the 20th October 1940, a Landmine was dropped on the street where Lily
lived. It was a terrifying experience for her. The result of such a devasting event was twenty houses
were destroyed within her street. Lily's house also suffered damage as there were
no windows or roof left. Also the walls were cracked and the electricity and gas stopped.
So Lily's family for safety had to live between the kitchen and their shelter in the garden.

As a lot of time during the war was spent in a shelter they had to be made
comfortable and so the shelter within Lily's garden contained bunk beds, an old rug on the floor and a paraffin heater.

At the age of sixteen Lily and her friends decided to attend dance lessons, as there was very little to entertain people of this age during the War.
At such lessons she learned dances such as the Waltz, the Quickstep and the Foxtrot. Half the lessons involved
learning these dances and the other half was dancing with the boys, which Lilly found was a lovely experience especially if the boys asked to walk them home.

Finding outfits to wear for the dancing was often difficult as clothes coupons were issued and material was often rare.
However once some lovely material came into a local shop and word soon got round. So Lily and her friend went to investigate.
At the shop they found some lovely peach and blue material and so treated themselves.
Lily had her first long dress made by a dressmaker with the material.
So at the next dance she turned up in her dress feeling like royalty.

Then at eighteen, by law, Lily had to help towards the War effort. Lily wanted to join the Land Army but was unfortunately told
she was not strong enough and so Lily had to attend a training factory for engineering.
She trained for six months at this factory and was then sent to use the skills she learned.
Lily hated working in the factory and wished she could have continued the work she started when she was fourteen. That was working within an office.
Another disadvantage to factory working was Lily often came home covered in paraffin and so smelling horrible. The journey to work was also very unpleasant
as the fear of a bomb attack scared all.

Lily reflects on the War as a devastating time and when she looks back on it she feels she and her
family were lucky to have survived such a time and is very grateful.

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